effort

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

   made an effort to cover all the reading material

2. 2
   noun

   The work involved in performing an activity; exertion.

   make an effort

3. 3
   noun

   An endeavor.

   Although he didn't win any medals, Johnson's effort at the Olympics won over many fans.

4. 4
   noun

   A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.

   the two bodies between which the effort acts

5. 5
   verb

   To strengthen, fortify or stimulate

   When old, he lived in London where, being High-minded and Poor, he was exposed to the contempt of disingenuous persons. Yet he efforted his Spirits with a Commemoration of the Days of Old.

6. 6
   noun

   a notable achievement

7. 7
   noun

   use of physical or mental energy

8. 8
   noun

   a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

Etymology

From Middle French effort, from Old French esfort, deverbal of esforcier (“to force, exert”), from Vulgar Latin *exfortiō, from Latin ex + fortis (“strong”). Compare typologically Bulgarian усилие (usilie), Czech úsilí, Polish wysiłek, Russian уси́лие (usílije) (< Proto-Slavic *sila).